Heavy on Sounds -- Under 11 Pounds!

Designed with the gigging musician in mind, the Yamaha MX61 v2 offers all the professional sounds, effects, and performance features you could want in a super-lightweight keyboard. At only 10.6 pounds, the 61-key MX61 is easy to transport from studio to stage. Tap into the more than 1,000 voices taken directly from the Yamaha Motif XS series of synths, editable right on the keyboard. Standard 5-pin MIDI, audio, and USB I/O make it easy to integrate the MX61 into your setup. In the studio, advanced controller features give you hands-on control for DAWs and virtual instruments, and the included Steinberg Cubase AI software provides everything you need to get started making music right out of the box.

Over a Thousand Sounds at Your Fingertips

From pianos and strings to drums and synth sounds, the MX61 has a voice for every purpose. This synth borrows its 1,000+ awesome voices from Yamaha's Motif XS series, making a pro soundset available in a significantly more affordable unit. The MX61's streamlined interface is easy to navigate, too, providing you with hands-on selection of all the voices as well as the ability to edit and store your own sounds directly on the keyboard.

Live performances are made all the better with the MX61's 16-part multi settings and 128-note polyphony. Switch between any of the 16 parts without the sound cutting off, and enjoy playing lush DAW MIDI tracks without dropping any notes.

VCM Effects for Vintage Tones

Give your performance that '70s sound with the keyboard's built-in Virtual Circuit Modeling (VCM) effects, which simulate the vintage sounds of equalizer, flanger, phaser, and wah effects introduced by legendary keyboards from way back when.

Easy Split/Layer Performance Mode

Whether you're noodling around, or finding sounds fast for a last-minute gig, you'll appreciate the MX61's split and layer functions available in Performance Mode. Combine two voices to play on the keyboard using the dedicated Split and Layer buttons -- each with their own arpeggiator -- and a dedicated part for a drum track.

Functions as an Audio/MIDI Interface -- Over One USB Cable

Connect your MX61 to your Mac, PC, or iOS device via USB to send and receive MIDI data and stereo audio over one cable. You'll be able to monitor your DAW tracks and all the sounds from virtual instruments via the headphone output of the MX61. Designed for professional music applications, the MX61's built-in digital-to-analog converters make your DAW's output sound great. Moreover, the MX interface is bi-directional so you can record the internal sounds of the MX61 directly to your computer without sending them through another conversion.

USB to Device Port and 1/8" Stereo In

There's no shortage of connectivity options on this synth. In addition to the USB audio/MIDI port, there's a USB to Device port so you can connect USB devices for storing MX data to external memory or for playing back WAV files directly from a USB stick. Add an MP3 player or tablet to your setup by connecting to the AUX input using a mini stereo cable.

Do More with Your DAW

Dedicated knobs and buttons allow you to use the MX61 as a controller for internal sounds, DAW parameters, and VST instruments. The keyboard's easy-to-use interface is combined with a remote template editor on your computer, which means that any of your VSTs can be set up to be controlled by the MX61. When using the MX61 with the included Cubase AI music-production software, you can mouse over any parameter, then use the MX61's large AI knob to control it.

Music-Production Software Included

Cubase AI offers 48 audio tracks and 64 MIDI tracks, notation, built-in VST effects, and much more. The MX61 also ships with instruments like Steinberg Prologue and the Yamaha YC-3B organ emulator, as well as Remote Template editors for setting up controls for VSTs. The MX61 provides everything you need to get started making music right away.

Yamaha MX61 v2 Keyboard Synthesizer

The MX61 v2 features a Class Compliant USB audio and MIDI interface for plug-and-play operation with your Mac, PC or iOS device.

Connect MX v2 to iOS devices with a Lightning to USB Camera Adapter, for audio and MIDI connectivity to a wide variety of music-making apps including FM Essential. FM Essential -- free from the app store -- expands your sonic possibilities with 256 incredible FM synthesizer Voices all controllable from the MX v2.

Stand out from the crowd with your choice of finish: black or blue.

Features:

- Expand your sound palette with FM Essential: a FREE iOS FM synthesizer app with effects, drum loops and more
- Class Compliant USB Audio/MIDI for true "plug and play" connectivity without installing any drivers
- New finish options: in addition to classic black (BK), check out the new attention-grabbing blue (BU)!
- Motif Sound Engine: layer, zone, switch, cycle, randomize and control up to 8 elements within a single voice
- Virtual Circuit Modeling re-creates the sound and behavior of vintage effects and signal processors
- 128 notes of polyphony ensures dropout-free performance playing live or with full 16-track sequences
- Damper Resonance DSP recreates the sound of the inside of a grand piano when the dampers are off the strings.
- Record/playback stereo audio and 16 channels of MIDI data via a single USB cable without any external devices
- DAW Remote controls the transport, mixer and software instruments directly from the front panel controls.
- The USB "TO DEVICE" port allows connection of USB flash drives for loading and storing data
- A 3.5mm aux line input lets you connect and hear mobile devices, tablets and more through the instrument
- Auto power off saves energy by shutting down after a period of inactivity

The MX v2 is a compact, lightweight Music Synthesizer with over 1000 Voices from the legendary Motif series plus deep computer and iOS integration. The MX v2 features a Class Compliant USB audio and MIDI interface for plug-and-play operation with your Mac, PC or iOS device. Connect MX v2 to iOS for audio and MIDI connectivity to a wide variety of music-making apps including FM Essential. FM Essential -- free from the app store -- expands your sonic possibilities with 256 incredible FM synthesizer Voices all controllable from the MX v2.

FM Essential: Free FM Synth App for iOS

- FM Essential is a FREE 4-operator FM synthesizer for iOS
- The standard (free) version features 10 Voices
- Connecting MX v2 via the Apple(R) Lightning to USB Camera adapter (not included), unlocks the full version of FM Essential, offering the full 256 FM Voices from classic 80s to cutting-edge, modern EDM
- Thanks to the integrated Class Compliant USB audio and MIDI interface, you can play and control FM Essential from the MX v2 keyboard while listening through the MX v2 headphone jack or stereo outputs.
- FM Essential features 8-note polyphony, built-in effects, EQ, drum phrases and a step sequencer for automating control changes

Overall:
I wanted to add a Yamaha to my keyboard arsenal but I didn't need another arranger or large sequencer keyboard. I thought the MX61 seemed to be priced too low to have an extensive usable sound library but I was happily mistaken. This is a full blown synth with fantastic sounds. And it has plenty of other features that can make this keyboard the centerpiece of most home studio DAWs. My only complaint is the tiny display screen but you can't have everything at this low price.

Thank you. Your vote has been counted. Could you briefly tell us why the review was or was not helpful?

This review has been selected by our experts as particularly helpful.
"Awesome keyboard for the price"

Overall:
Even if you will only use it to play and perform, and not doing any fancy stuff with Cubase or some other software, it is an exceptional value for the money. The light weight is due to an all-plastic construction, but is is very well made with ease-of-use in mind, and the keys have a very pleasant action. I like the the 45-degree back edge with the names of the various sockets that you can see easily from the top. With 1,106 voices and a MOTIF engine, you may have to spend time trying them all and finding the ones you like, but this can be fun! Has very good organ sounds with rotary effect, and vintage keyboards too. Tons of rhythm riffs and cool ambient sounds you can compose from. If you have other Yamaha gear this thing is MIDI plug and play. USB connection is a breeze. Hard to find better value for money. Well done Yamaha.

Style of Music: Mostly blues and jazzy stuff, also some traditional music.

A temporary customer reference number is assigned to each customer only while they are shopping on zZounds.com. If you call our customer service department for assistance, this number makes it easier for us to answer any questions you have about products, services or purchases.

A temporary customer reference number is assigned to each customer only while they are shopping on zZounds.com. If you call our customer service department for assistance, this number makes it easier for us to answer any questions you have about products, services or purchases.

1. zZounds offers the industry‘s most musician-friendly payment plans

zZounds offers a variety of Play as you Pay® installment plans that allow you to get the gear you want today. While our competitors might offer house credit cards that require you to fill out an application and pass a credit check, our payment plans are easy to get, simple to use, and, best of all, accrue zero interest. Unlike those house credit cards that can leave you vulnerable to exorbitant interest charges once the promotional period ends, we never have and never will charge interest when you take advantage of one of the zZounds Play as you Pay® plans.

2. zZounds guarantees the lowest price

Seen it for less somewhere else? Get it for less at zZounds. Simply click the “Seen it for less?” link on any product page and as long as we‘re not losing money, we‘ll beat any legitimate competitor‘s lowest price, usually within two hours. Want our best price even faster? Call us at 800-zZounds (800-996-8637), and we‘ll provide you with a lower price on the phone. Also, if you purchase from us and later find the product for less elsewhere, call or email us within 45 days, and we‘ll refund you the difference.

3. Nobody Beats zZounds‘ Fast & Free Shipping

At zZounds, we know you want your gear fast, and shipped to you free of charge. That‘s why we have absolutely free ground shipping on every single order shipped within the continental United States. This includes heavy and oversized items. No minimum purchase required. No exclusions. We also ship over 90% of our orders with FREE 2-day shipping. We pull it all off with our strategically placed, coast-to-coast warehouses.

4. zZounds makes returns super easy

Buy it, try it, like it, or return it to us for a full refund. It‘s just that simple. If you‘re not in love with what you bought, return it to zZounds within 45 days, and we‘ll promptly arrange for an exchange or a refund. No hassles. No hidden charges. And if a product‘s defective or damaged, call us at 800-zZounds (800-996-8637), and we‘ll email you a prepaid shipping label so you can easily return it to us at zero cost to you.

5. zZounds delivers top-rated customer service

zZounds has received multiple Bizrate® Circle of Excellence Platinum awards, placing us in the top 0.7 percent of Bizrate‘s network of 5,200 retailers. Our success in meeting the needs of our customers -- since 1996, we‘ve satisfied over 1,000,000 people -- is due in large part to the fact that zZounds only hires experienced musicians to answer your calls and emails, and they are never paid a commission.